Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2009(UTC)
Posts: 13
|
My dependable Maytag stops before the clothes are dry. It will restart with the Start button immediately so I do not think the motor is overheating and the drum turning resistance seems normal.
This occurs both on the Electronic Dry and Timed cycles.
I have checked the door switch and it appears normal.
I cleaned the inside of the machine, the ducts and motor thoroughly, including the control panel. I ran the machine without the vent hooked up and I get the same results.
Sometimes the dryer will run for 20 minutes or more before stopping, other times it will run for only a few minutes. It will always restart without any delay.
What are the obvious parts I would need to replace? Part numbers would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.
Harley Monster
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Senior Expert
Joined: 3/29/2009(UTC)
Posts: 11,699
|
The two things that might cause your problem are a faulty door switch and a faulty start switch.
Since you have checked the door switch and believe it to be ok, I think your start switch is the likely problem. The start switch sorta acts as a relay and if the contact is broken while the machine is running the machine will stop.
Unfortunately the part diagrams for this model seem to be mixed up, maybe its the age. I would suggest you remove the start switch and try and get a part number off of it. You can then search for the part, and it should be a low enough cost to warrant replacing it on speculation that this will fix the problem.
Please post and let us know how it work out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2009(UTC)
Posts: 13
|
Thanks for the tip Sid...I will pick up a start switch and give it a try, that should be about the cheapest of all the parts that could cause this.
What else is in common to both the Electronic Dry cycle and the timed cycle? Could the problem be coming from the timer itself?
The other area I thought might be a problem was with the temp sensor?
If the switch does not fix it, what would be the next step?
Thanks again.
Harley Monster
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Senior Expert
Joined: 3/29/2009(UTC)
Posts: 11,699
|
I do not think this is coming from the Timer, but I have been wrong before. I work with testing and rehabbing used appliances, and a bad start switch is a fairly common problem.
If that is not the problem, the next logical place to check is the door switch, which may have a loose connection, and then the wiring circuits on both the starter switch and the door switch. It may be you have a partially broken wire that is shorting out from vibration of the machine, or a weak wire from all those years of heat. Either of these will be hard to find but give it a go with a continuity/ohms check, You can put the meter on each end you wish to test and then shake the wire and see if you get a change in the reading.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2009(UTC)
Posts: 13
|
Sid,
I ordered and installed the Start Switch and it did not fix the problem. I played with the door switch and it seems fine though I could replace it for $18.
If it is not these two items, what do you think it is?
Is there a High Temp Sensor that may be malfunctioning?
I did not think this sounded like a Timer problem either.
The dryer works perfectly but shuts off before the clothes are dry, it fails in both Timed mode and Electronic Dry mode whether the vent is hooked up or not. Sometimes it will go 15 or 20 minutes before shutting off and other times it will only go for a few minutes.
Any more ideas?
Harley Monster
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Senior Expert
Joined: 3/29/2009(UTC)
Posts: 11,699
|
Unfortunately, I think we are now left with the expensive problem, the motor. This model should have a motor switich, which you should remove, test and clean the contacts as well as possible and tighten any connections. Also check all of the connections to and around the motor.
Both the switch and the motor are pretty expensive items (and some parts of this model may not be available) relative to a dryer of this age. If you cannot get it working a better investment might be in a new or used dryer.
Anyway, I hope working with the motor assembly can get you going at least for a little while.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2009(UTC)
Posts: 13
|
Everything I have read on this and other forums say that if the dryer restarts immediately it is probably not the motor. Evidently it is most common if the motor trips it must go through a cool down before you can restart the dryer. In every case the dryer has Restarted immediately without cool down being required.
I am a retired aviation mechanic and usually can sort things out using logic as above, but as you know I have no experience with these dryers.
I still think there must be a sensor someplace in the circuit that must be sensing an overheat that electronically resets on Restart. Do you know of such sensor?
I have an independent appliance parts dealer in town and the owner has years of experience repairing washers and dryers; I will go talk to him on Monday and see what he says. The Maytag repairman I spoke to seems to think it is the Timer. We just bought new Whirlpool Duets from them so they are willing to talk to me. The used Maytags then went into a rental unit.
Thanks for your help and if you have any other ideas please let me know, I just don't think it is the motor because of the instant Restarts and the normal freedom of the drum. Next time I am up there I will take the belt off the motor and check to see if there is any excessive bearing play or internal drag. I have been wrong before, I just hope I am not this time for I don't need the expense of a new motor...if I can even get one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Senior Expert
Joined: 3/29/2009(UTC)
Posts: 11,699
|
Your information about the dryer motor is correct, in that if it is overheating they have a cut off circuit that shuts the motor down so that it is not ruined. What I am thinking is not that the motor mechanics are bad, but that there is a bad electrical connection in the motor or motor switch that is termporarily shorting out. This will have the same effect as opening the door or turning off the dryer. If the broken connection is very tentative then it will start right back up when you press the start switch, and go until the connection is broken again.
Anyway,your peristence is admirable and your plan sounds like a good one, good luck and let us know what happens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2009(UTC)
Posts: 13
|
Thanks Sid...
Do you have any information of what terminals to check on the motor and what the voltage and/or resistance each should have?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Senior Expert
Joined: 3/29/2009(UTC)
Posts: 11,699
|
No, I do not have any technical info on that model.
What I think you are looking for is very hard to find, the intermittent short or circuit break. A lot of techs do not find these shorts, they just keep replacing parts and wires until the problem goes away. If it is inside the timer you will probably never find it.
If you have the wiring diagram, (if you do not, you can still manually trace the wiring) I would use it to test continuity in all of the wiring, including wiring from the terminal block inward. I know you checked the door switch, but its a good place to begin anyway. I would start with the door switch, disconnect it and put your meter leads on each terminal and bang it around, trying to cause a discontinuity when the switch is closed. I would then do the same with the wiring to and from the motor, motor switch and timer. If you can find or break continuity you have probably found your problem.
If you can buy the timer on a returnable basis you should try it, and while I would hope that would solve the problem there is the negative that it would, of course, prove me wrong from the beginning.
Keep us posted, thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Jump
You can post new topics in this forum.
You can reply to topics in this forum.
You can delete your posts in this forum.
You can edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You can vote in polls in this forum.
Important Information:
The AppliancePartsPros.com uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
More Details
Close
